ROUND-UP: Africans in the EPL – Week 26

Week 26 of the EPL saw a number of scorers from the African continent with Bertrand Traore putting his name in the history books as the first Burkina Faso scorer in the EPL.

Africa Football Shop‘s EPL correspondent reports all the action.

Riyad Mahrez earned a penalty for high flying Leicester City which was converted by Jamie Vardy, however the Foxes suffered a 2-1 loss to Arsenal. Despite the loss, Mahrez’s side still top the standings in the Premiership. Arsenal’s new signing Mohamed El Neny was an unused substitute as the Ghanaian duo Jeffrey Schlupp and Daniel Amartey were both absent from Leicester’s squad.

Tunisian Wahbi Khazri scored from a quality free kick early against Manchester United to give Sunderland the lead until United equalised before the break. Lamine Kone’s powering header found the net in the 87th minute to upset the side from Manchester. The goal was deemed as an own goal by David De Gea. Dame N’Doye played the whole game for Sunderland from the right and gave the Manchester United full back a run for his money.

Chelsea welcomed Newcastle to the Bridge sending the Magpies back with a convincing 5-1 win. John Obi Mikel was rested for the game against Newcastle with one eye on the Champions League game midweek. Baba Rahman was introduced early in the game for John Terry. Substitute Bertrand Traore slid in to convert Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross on 83 minutes for the fifth goal making the 20-year-old the first player from Burkina Faso to score in the EPL. Bertrand Traore’s goal for Chelsea Saturday has placed his country Burkina Faso as the 94th country to get on the score sheet in the English Premier League. Ivorian Chieck Tiote lasted full throttle.

Victor Moses made a comeback to the West Ham team with an assist as they came back from two goals down to steal a point at Norwich. Alex Song was also part of the midfield for West Ham replacing the suspended Cheikhou Kouyate. Emmanuel Emenike also came on for the visitors but missed a chance to seal the three points for West Ham. Dieumerci Mbokani came on late for Norwich but failed to make an impact.

Shane Long’s goal was enough to seal a 1-0 for Southampton at the Liberty Stadium against Swansea. Swansea’s African contingent of Andre Ayew and Modou Barrow were both in action with the latter a 61st minute substitute. Sadio Mane of Southampton was an unused substitute for this one.

Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to score his third EPL goal but it was not enough as City lost 2-1 to title chasers Tottenham Hotspur. Yaya Toure also featured for Manchester City. Emmanuel Adebayor was on target for Crystal Palace, however, they succumbed to a 2-1 loss against Watford on Saturday. Mame Biram Diouf played full throttle as Stoke cruised to a 3-1 win away at the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth.

Liverpool defender Kolo Touré scored his first goal for the Reds in their 6-0 thrashing of Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday. The former Arsenal and Manchester City centre-back, who landed at Anfield from City in July 2013, headed in from a corner on 71 minutes, after Sturridge, Milner, Can, Origi and Clyne had already found the back of the net for the visitors. It was the 34-year-old’s 60th appearance for Liverpool, and his first Premier League goal since January 2011.